CJCS visits Elmendorf, answers servicemembers' questions

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Francesca Popp
  • 3rd Wing Public Affairs
ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff candidly answered questions during a town hall-style meeting at the Talkeetna Theater here Feb. 23.

Marine Corps Gen. Peter Pace, in his first visit to Elmendorf since becoming the chairman, kept his opening remarks brief - pointing out he only had two words to say - "Thank you."

"You've been doing this job up here and deploying from here to Iraq and Afghanistan. I want to say thanks to you for all you do and all you have done and, unfortunately, some of the things that we are going to have to ask you to do in the future," the general said.

He also spoke about the support family members give to those deployed.

"I would also like to take a minute to ask you to reach out to your families," said General Pace. "If you haven't thanked them lately, thank them for what they do."

He addressed what he knows about the "plus up" of Marines and Soldiers, and how that will affect the Air Force's drawdown over the next few years. General Pace also dispelled the rumors of a possible invasion in Iran.

"We're not," he said.

He proceeded to open the floor to the standing room-only crowd of more than 700 joint servicemembers, offering a coin to the first person with a question. Senior Master Sgt. Gary Sharp, 3rd Communications Squadron, took the chairman up on his offer and asked for his opinion on each service having its own distinctive uniform.

"I like each service having its own uniform," General Pace said. "The guy and gal who join the Air Force are different from the guy and gal who join the Army, Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard. I like being around a table know who's who and be able to have that services' pride re-enforced by the separate uniforms."

General Pace continued taking questions for about 45 minutes and he gave each person a clear-cut answer. The topics ranged from deployment tour lengths for each service to dental and other benefits for the National Guard, and recruiting efforts to the differences between the Vietnam War and current operations.

"This was a great opportunity. The perspective he brings, a man in his position, is a great value to us," said Senior Master Sgt. Mort Gould, 3rd Contracting Squadron superintendent, who asked the general about Britain reducing its troops in Iraq. "I thought his answers were articulate and straightforward, not just sound bites. Even with the tough questions, he explained everything very well."

When the meeting ended, Staff Sgt. Pam Alvarez, 3rd Medical Operations Squadron, said she more clearly understood the reasons why the Air Force is drawing down by 40,000 Airmen.

"I think it was a good thing that he came here to talk to us personally rather than hearing it on the news," she said, noting the general gave a more personal and in-depth look at what's happening now and in the future.

In addition to the town hall meeting, the chairman was the featured speaker at the Armed Services YMCA Salute to the Military Banquet in downtown Anchorage later that day.
(Staff Sgt. Matthew Rosine, Air Force Print News, contributed to this story.)